- Zostavax
Zostavax is a livevaccine developed byMerck & Co. which has been shown to reduce the incidence ofherpes zoster (known as Shingles) by 51.3% in a pivotal phase III study of 38,000 adults aged 60 and older who received the vaccine. The vaccine also reduced by 66.5% the number of cases of postherpetic neuralgia and reduced the severity and duration of pain and discomfort associated with shingles, by 61.1%. [cite journal | author=M.N. Oxman et al., The Shingles Prevention Study Group | title=A vaccine to prevent herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in older adults | journal=New England Journal of Medicine | volume=352| issue=22 | year=2005 | pages=2271–2284 | pmid=15930418 | doi=10.1056/NEJMoa051016] cite journal |author=Oxman MN, Levin MJ |title=Vaccination against Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia |journal=J. Infect. Dis. |volume=197 Suppl 2 |issue= |pages=S228–36 |year=2008 |month=March |pmid=18419402 |doi=10.1086/522159 |url=http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/522159?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dncbi.nlm.nih.gov] Local reactions at the injections site were generally mild.Zostovax was approved by the FDA in May, 2006cite journal | author=Mitka M. | title=FDA Approves Shingles Vaccine: Herpes Zoster Vaccine Targets Older Adults | journal=JAMA | year=2006 | volume=296(2) | pages=157–158 | pmid=16835412 | doi=10.1001/jama.296.2.157 ] . The FDA recommended it only for adults aged 60 who meet the following requirements [ [http://www.fda.gov/CBER///label/zosmer052506pi.pdf Patient Information about ZOSTAVAX] ] :
* Has not had a life-threatening allergic reaction togelatin , the antibioticneomycin , or other component of the herpes zoster vaccine.
* Does not have a weakened immune system due to HIV/AIDS or another disease or medications (such as steroids, radiation and chemotherapy) that affect the immune system.
* Does not have a history of cancer affecting the bone marrow or lymphatic system, such as leukemia or lymphoma.
* Does not have active, untreatedtuberculosis .On October 25th, 2006, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend that Zostavax be given to all adults age 60 and over, including those who have had a previous episode of shinglescite web | url=http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r061026.htm | title=CDC’s Advisory Committee Recommends “Shingles” Vaccination | first=CDC | last=Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices | year=2006] .
References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
